نشریه علوم زمین
پیاپی 126 (زمستان 1401)

Andesites are located in the north of shahr-e-babak , central Iran, Urumieh- Dokhtar belt. The main texture in these rocks is porphyry and their phenocrysts are plagioclase (Andesine to Labradorite), pyroxene (Augite), amphibol (Tschermakite and Magnesiohornblende). These properties are signatures of calc- alkaline series formed in a volcanic arc setting. Based on geochemical studies, the rocks show enrichment in LREE rather than HREE. The lack of significant Eu anomalies in REE pattern indicates  oxidation state of magma during crystallization. Based on geochemical studies, the clinopyroxenes are Augite and have been crystallized from magma with almost 10% H2O. Fe3+ values of the clinopyroxenes reveal high oxygen fugacity in the magma. Based on the mineral chemistry data, pressure estimates from the clinopyroxenes in the range of 6-10 Kbr and composition yield the crystalization temperatures that range from 900-1100 OC.  Typically, clinopyroxenes occure at calc-alkaline orogenic igneous rocks. The plagioclase composition yield the crystalization temperatures that range from 650-750 OC. According to the present study, the rocks are probably the result of the subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere below the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, during the Eocene and in a volcanic arc environment.

There are discontinuous outcrops of volcanic rocks in the West Azarbaijan province and in the north of Maku city. These volcanic complex were bimodal and compose of acidic and basic lava and pyroclastic rocks. Mineral chemistry studies show that clinopyroxenes in the studied rocks are diopside. These pyroxenes have a high magnesium number (0.87 to 0.99). Magma series and tectonic determination diagrams show that the basaltic rocks that make up the studied clinopyroxenes have an alkaline nature and were formed in a whitin plate environment. According to geothermobarometry studies, clinopyroxenes were formed at temperature 1100 - 1250 ° C and pressure of 3 - 9 Kbar. The depth for generation of magma was at about 22 kilometers.

Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes and whole-rock geochemical analyses were carried out on plutonic rocks of the Chadormalu district to constrain the magmatic history of the Cadomian orogeny of the northern Gondwana margin during Late Precambrian–Early Paleozoic times. Despite the similarities in the geochemical data, i.e., calc-alkaline affinity, enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, Ba, K, and Cs), and depletion in high field strength elements, e.g., Nb, Ta, P, Ti, and rare earth element patterns, bulk rock Sr-Nd isotope data rull out the co-magmatic nature of investigated basic (gabbro) and felsic (granite) magmas. Sr-Nd isotopic data (e.g., ɛNd(t)= -3.6 to +1.8) along with rather high (207Pb/206Pb)t attest to the crust-dominant, and mantle-derived melts for the granitoids and gabbros, respectively. The investigated zircons yielded the older ages for the gabbroic samples. The extensional tectonic regime is followed by slab retreat or delamination brought flare-up of the oldest arc-related igneous rocks and interacted with Cadomian basement to form the investigated granitoid melts. The gabbroic rocks show geochemical and isotopic disruption and elevation of L-MREE/HREE ratios on the chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns; interpreting the evidences of mantle heterogeneity and interaction with Paleoproterozoic basement.

The studied area is located in Ardabil province and the northeast of Meshkinshahr city and structurally in Alborz-West-Azerbaijan zone. Tephritic dykes have pyroxenite and gabbro xenolites. Mineralogy of tephritic dykes and xenolites includes plagioclase, clinopyroxene, analcime, amphibole, olivine and phlogopite. Porphyric, microcrystalline, granular and cumular microlytic textures are their main textures. According to the mineral chemistry data as well as the presence of shaped, homogeneous and coarse analcime crystals, it can be concluded that the analcime crystals are secondary and as a result of delayed magmatic reactions under hydrothermal conditions have been formed on the primary leucite crystals. The composition of olivine in gabbro xenoliths is chrysolite. The chemical composition of pyroxene mineral in tephritic dykes and gabbro xenolites is diopside. The studied clinopyroxenes with alkaline composition show good adaptation to the tectonic environment of the magmatic arc. Clinopyroxenes are also formed at low to medium pressures, indicating their crystallization during magma ascent and at different depths. The amount of ferric iron in clinopyroxenes indicates high oxygen fugacity of magma. Clinopyroxenes of Tephritic and Gabbroic dykes are formed at 10 and 12 kbar pressure, temperature between 950 and 1100 ° C and depth between 35-35 and 40-50 km. The chemical composition of amphiboles related to pyroxenite xenolite is  calcic and magnesiohastingsitic amphiboles type . The average geometry of the barometer based on the amount of aluminum for pyroxenite xenoliths is 7-9 kbar. Thermometric studies indicated that the amphiboles were formed at 900-950 ° C. The chemical composition of mica is phlogopite, and the number of magnesium in mica is 0.77.

In the north of Ardabil (from Namin to Lahroud) there are widespread sequences of Eocene and Quaternary mafic to intermediate and felsic magmatic activities with different compositions. The composition of these rocks varies from basaltic lavas as well as dacitic and rhyolitic domes in Namin to basalt and basaltic andesite in Lahroud area. The chemical composition of olivine from olivine basaltic lavas indicates a forsterite composition changing from 67.8 to 92.7. Clinopyroxenes show diopside composition whereas plagioclase has labradorite to bytownite composition. Garnet xenocrysts in the rhyolitic domes have an almandine composition. These rocks are characterized by the enrichment in LREEs compared to the HREEs. Mafic-intermediate rocks show shoshonitic to high-K calc-alkaline composition whereas dacitic and rhyolitic domes show adakitic signature. Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of basaltic-andesitic rocks indicate their genesis are related to the partial melting of a metasomatized mantle wedge, re-fertilized by sediments and fluids from the subducting slab in the Eocene subduction zone of Iran. The geochemical and isotopic signatures of dacitic-rhyolitic domes indicate their origin from partial melting of the lower parts of the thickened continental crust of Iran.

The Taftan volcano hosts an extensive volcanic activity during Late Miocene to Quaternary where took place over Makran-Chagai subduction zone. Taftan rocks are mainly basaltic andesite, andesite, trachyandesite, and dacite that occur as lavas and pyroclastic rocks. They are characterized by basic-intermediate inclusions enclosed by acidic groundmass, and disequilibrium textures in plagioclase phenocrysts including sieve texture, zoning, and dissolution margin, which may reflect magma mixing. These rocks record high-K calc-alkaline to calc-alkaline affinity with enrichment in LREE and LILE relative to HREE and HFSE, respectively. These features, coupled with the clear depletion in HFSE (such as Nb, Ta, and Ti) are consistent with typical subduction-related volcanic arcs. Taftan primary melts might have been produced by ~15% partial melting of spinel lherzolite mantle. The normalized multi-element patterns which mimic the upper continental crust values, and enrichment in Pb, Th, U, and Rb agree well with magma evolution by assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC). The available isotopic geochronology dataset reveal that the youngest volcanoes of the Makran-Chagai magmatic arc are Bazman and Kuh-e-Sultan volcanoes. A geochemical comparison of these volcanoes highlights that magmatism in the Taftan where the crust is thick, underwent a higher degree of crustal assimilation en route to the surface.

Sargaz-Abshur (Sikhoran) ultramafic-mafic complex, which is situated in Esfandagheh area, SE Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic- magmatic zone,  intruded into Upper Paleozoic- Triassic metamorphic rocks and covered by Jurassic sedimentary rocks. This complex consists of harzburgite and porphyroclastic dunites of the residual mantle (tectonites), layered ultramafic-mafic cumulates, large isotropic gabbro intrusion and scattered microgabbroic to diabasic dykes. It does not have extrusive and sedimentary parts of a topical ophiolite sequence (e.g., diabasic swarm dykes, massive and pillow basalts, hyaloclastites, chert, radiolarite and pelagic limestone). The complex is like a large pluton that caused the intensive contact metamorphism of Upper Paleozoic- Triassic rocks through the widespread partial melting of amphibolites, thus it is not an ophiolite sequence. The pluton is mainly comprised of porphyroclastic dunites and layered ultramafic-mafic cumulates. Cr-spinel is enriched or depleted in Cr, having magmatic to residual origins and found in the layered ultramafic (mantle) part of the pluton. The Euhedral Cr-spinel crystalized between olivine grains or as inclusion with massive and layered cumulative textures. It is chromite, magnesiochromite, hercynite in composition, corresponding  to Cr-spinels of depleted peridotites from the supra-subduction zone (SSZ), especially those magmas of SSZ that reacted with boninitic magmas. Detailed field works together with previous and new geochronological  ages of pegmatite veins related to partial melting of host amphibolite show the alpine type Sargaz-Abshour ultramafic-mafic pluton was ascended as a astenospheric mantle diaper in extensional intra/fore-arc basin of the Andyan type of Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic- magmatic zone during the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (187.2 ± 2.6 Ma).

Based on field observation and petrographic evidence, by progress in metamorphic degrees, a wide variety of metabasites have formed following the metamorphism at amphibolite facies (metamorphism M1) in the east of Jandaq. Thermobarometry of plagioclase- amphibole pairs indicate temperature ranges were 642-692ºC  and 688-712 ºC for epidote amphibolites and garnet amphibolite, respectively, in a pressure range of 8 and 11 Kbar, correlating with transition from middle amphibolite to upper amphibolite facies. In addition to this metamorphic phase, petrographic signatures indicate further metamorphic phases concerning this region's geological phenomena. Based on brittle deformation in amphiboles, and epidote and quartz formation in their fractures, these rocks have undergone some degrees of retrograde metamorphism (<700 ºC; metamorphism M2) at greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. Rock foliation and mineral orientation, aggregate shape preferred orientation (ASPO) of titanite crystals along foliation, and syn-tectonic euhedral garnets indicate prograde metamorphism toward amphibolite-upper amphibolite facies (metamorphism M3). Finally, under greenschist facies condition, minerals such as chlorite and actinolite were formed in these rocks (metamorphism M4). The formation of chlorite and actinolite in the rims of the primary crystals shows that these rocks were finally affected by metamorphism at greenschist facies (M4 metamorphism).

Stratigraphic and paleontological studies on 6-section brachiopods from Lower to Upper Paleozoic in the Kerman region were performed by a joint Iranian-Italian team. In one of these sections in the Shabjareh area - Kerman - Kat Kouyeh Formation with geographical characteristics of 31º 5´ 56º, 10E, N, a complete sequence of the rotation of Ordovician sediments that had brachiopods in some horizons was studied. One of the typical brachiopods studied is Martellia shabjerehansis. Ultrastructural studies on this species and studies to study the shell changes of brachiopods from Cambrian to Devonian were selected from the samples taken by the SEM devices of the University of Milan. The reason for choosing this species was the existence of 28 completely healthy shells are very suitable for evolution from the young to adults of this specimen, two of which had well-preserved articulate shells, and the evolution of age from young to old specimens can be observed in it.

Pabdeh Formation to Asmari Formation transition deposits were studied in the stratigraphic section of Khaviz located in the northeast of Behbehan. In the present research, the deposits of the upper part of Pabdeh Formation consisting shale and interbedded of argillaceous gray limestone with a thickness of about 66 m were studied, which are followed by deposits of the lower part of Asmari Formation with a thickness of about 21 m, including cream-colored clay limestone. As a result of this study, 33 species belonging to 15 genera of calcareous nannofossils were identified. Based on the recorded bio-events and associated fossil assemblages, the bio-zones of Sphenolithus pseudoradians Zone, Ericsonia subdisticha Zone, Helicosphaera eticulate Zone, Sphenolithus predistentus Zone, Sphenolithus distentus Zone were determined. The studied zones are consistent with CNE20- CNO4 / CNO5 from Agnini et al. (2014) zonation. Based on the introduced bio-zones, the age of the upper part of Pabdeh Formation in the studied section of the Priabonin-early Rupelian and the age of the lower part of the Asmari Formation Rupelian-Chattian are suggested. In this study, the boundary between Pabdeh and Asmari formations is continuous, which indicates sedimentation with decreasing depth in the boundary of these two formations.

Numerous vertebrate footprints have been found in the dislocated sandstone slabs in the Mashhad city, northeast Iran. Neogene sediments of Chenaran township are supposed to be provenance of the studied slabs. Identified footprints includes artiodactyl tracks as ichnotaxa Bifidipesvelox, Lamaichnum guanicoe, Pecoripeda amalphaea, Pecoripeda isp., Carnivore tracks as Canipeda isp., and Felipeda isp., and bird tracks as Avidactyla isp., Avipeda gryponyx, Fuscinapeda texana. Among studied slabs, bird tracks are abundant. This is the first report of Cenozoic vertebrate tracks from the Kopeh Dagh geological zone. Discovery of Lamaichnum guanicoe shows Camelidae distribution in Iranian Plateau is as old as Neogene, and it is the first report of Camelidae sign from Iran. Presence of diverse footprints from Kopeh Dagh shows attenable biodiversity in the region of Iran.

The Asmari carbonate formation in Lorestan is seen in the form of a medium to the thick limestone-rich layer of benthic foraminifera and often as a rock formation. In this study, the stratigraphic sequence of Asmari carbonate formation in the Chenareh Anticline section located in the south of Lorestan basin and Amiran Anticline section located in the middle part of Lorestan basin were studied in terms of lithology and micro biostratigraphy. The thickness of the Chenareh Section was 180 meters and the Section of Amiran Anticline was 158 meters. In total, more than 290 thin sections of both were prepared and examined in the laboratory. The results of fossil studies based on the expansion of foraminifera finally lead to the introduction and presentation of 1 Assemblage biozone in the Amiran anticline section and 3 Assemblage biozones related to the Chenareh anticline stratigraphic section. Accordingly, the age of the Asmari Formation is in the Chenareh section is Oligo-Miocene (Chattian-Bordigalian) and in the Amiran section is Miocene (Bordigalin). According to the lithostratigraphic studies, the border of the Asmari Formation in both sections of Chenareh and Amiran with Shabazan Formation is progressive-continuous and discontinuous, and in both sections of the upper boundary with Gachsaran Formation can be seen in the same way as evaporative sediments.

In order to identify, classify and paleoecological study of Lower Cretaceous echinoid fauna in northwest of Kerman area, the stratigraphic section of Siriz, was selected and its specimens were sampled and studied. Echinoids were studied and identified from a rich and diverse collection of macrofossils (echinoids, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods and corals) and microfossils (foraminifera and ostracods), which present in this deposits. Sixteen genera and species of echinoids are reported for the first time from the region, among which six species are new and reported from Kerman area previously. The co-existence of echinoids and other fossil groups in Siriz area confirms an Aptian age for the sediments. Also, it can be concluded that a shallow, less than 50 meters and warm platform environment was prevailed during the deposition of the strata.

Middle Jurassic sediments of the Hojedk Formation have been well-exposed in the Central East of Iran. In this study, plant macrofossils, which are collected from a coal exploratory well in the Mazino area, southwest of the Tabas were studied, so that 29 species of well-preserved plant macrofossils belonging to 15 genera of various orders such as Equisetales, Filicales, Caytoniales, Bennettitales, Cycadales, and Pinales were identified. One local biozone- Ptilophyllum harrisianum-Klukia exilis interval zone was recognized. The lower and the upper boundaries of this biozone were identified by the first and the last occurrences of index species. Based on the occurrences of the Equisetites sp. cf. E. beanii, Klukia exilis, Ptilophyllum harrisianum, Nilssonia macrophylla, and Elatides thomasii, an early Middle Jurassic age (Aalenian-Bajocian) was suggested for this plant assemblage. The relative abundance of Filicales (ferns), Cycadales, Pinales, and Equisetales are 43.18, 31.82, 13.63, and 4.64 percent, respectively. Moreover, the results of similarity indices of plant macrofossils indicate relatively strong value of similarity between the plant macrofossil assemblage of the Mazino area and elsewhere in the Tabas Block. Besides, the floral gradient score of this assemblage is 54.89. Based on the paleontological and lithological evidence, a humid ‘warm temperate biome’ is considered for this locality. Moreover, it is confirmed that a uniform vegetation and palaeoclimate occurred in Tabas Block during the Middle Jurassic and that Iran was located within Vakhrameev’s Euro-Sinian region, as Transcaspian subprovince.

The Ghalajeh anticline with about 60 km length and NW-SE trend is located in Lurestan sub-zone and the Zagros fold and thrust belt. Geometry and kinematic of the folds of this zone are controlled by thrust faults and detachment levels. In this research, geometry and deformational style analysis of the Ghalajeh anticline and the role of the detachment levels on folding style have been investigated interpreting well data and construction of three cross-sections and calculation of geometric parameters. The structure of this anticline is affected by two detachment levels, which include the Pabdeh and Garu formations as the upper and middle detachment levels. Detachment levels and deep-seated and surface thrust faults in the southwestern limb affected the folding geometry and have caused the high thickness of the middle detachment level and inversion of the southern limb which waning southwestern part of the anticline, and the dip of the layers are normal which in turn caused fracturing. Analysis of geometrical parameter along the Ghalajeh anticline indicate that this anticline is an asymmetrical, cylindrical fold is an open half-angle round fold.

The Fariman complex is located in the northeast of Iran and southeast of Mashhad, contains a variety of rocks from the Permian to the present era that have undergone several stages of deformation. In this paper, the structural geometry of faults and folds of the region is analyzed and based on it, the deformation stages of Fariman complex are identified, which indicates its evolution during 3 stages of deformation. In the first stage of deformation, tectonic forces along with the thermal stage have caused the transformation of sediments and the formation of first generation foliation and folds in the region. First-generation thrusts also formed during this phase, thrusting Palaeotethys remnants. The second stage of deformation has led to the formation of the second generation of thrusts and folds in the region. Kinematic analysis of second generation thrusts indicates two reverse motion phases with leftlateral strike-slip component and right–lateral strike–slip with reverse component.Its reverse motions, which result in the formation of misplaced massive carbonate associated with the second stage of deformation, and its dextral motion, which cut and displace previous structures and affect all rock units in the region, the third stage of deformation is analyzed.

Bajgan metamorphic complex is located at the southeastern termination of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone in north of Makran. The metamorphic rocks, having igneous and sedimentary origins, are in tectonic contact with ophiolite assemblages and colored mélange. The rocks can be divided in four units based on lithological characteristics. These units are covered by Pliocene and Quaternary sediments. Structural study indicates the presence of three syn-metamorphic stages of deformation in ductile condition. The main structures elements are different generation of folds, foliation and lineation, each of them has been generated during a specific stage and superimposed on each other. The structural elements in this complex have emerged during subduction, ophiolite obduction and exhumation, respectively.

The presence of clay minerals of any type, amount or distribution pattern in hydrocarbon wells causes numerous problems in the formation evaluation. In this research, 15 core samples from Asmari Formation in the Maroun Oilfield were selected in order to study the type and distribution pattern of clay minerals by laboratory investigations. The XRD and microscopic results showed the studied samples consisted mainly of quartz (14.7-72.2%) and carbonate minerals (3.0-65.4%) as main constituent phases; while the plagioclase (0.0-6.7%) and clay minerals (3.3–44.5%) were identified as the main accessory minerals. In some samples, sulfide and ferrous minerals (0.0-2%) were also identified. The calculated percentage of illite in mixed-layer smectite/illite showed the diagenesis has occurred at different depths of reservoir. The SEM/EDX analysis performed on various types of clay minerals showed that kaolinite size varied from 0.7 to 6.5 μm in studied samples. In addition, Illite size ranged in our studied samples from 0.4 to 3.6 μm. Our results indicate that the clays in the Asmari Formation occur in three main patterns as dispersed, pore-bridging and pore-filling with the variation of the total amount of clay minerals, min 3.3% and max 44.5% across the length of Asmari Formation.

The study area is a part of Zagros Folded zone and located in the Lorestan sedimentary basin. In this regard, three areas with high bitumen potential were selected, which include the northern area of Kuhdasht, northeast of Poldokhtar and southeast of Sepiddasht. In the study areas, bitumens are exposed as veins between the fractures and as interlayers with host rock that the thickness of these veins is between 10 cm to more than 1.5 meters. Field studies showed that the studied bitumens have developed in the shales of Amiran Formation. Based on the results of organic geochemistry, 80.10 to 93.60% of the extractable saturated compounds are in the category of asphalts and have a very good quality in terms of thermal maturity (maturity of organic matter). The studied samples are formed in a reducing to slightly reducing sedimentary environment. Drawing the diagram of C34/C35 Homohopane vs. C29/C30 Hopane for the studied bitumens showed that the generating rocks of the studied samples are carbonate and detrital in nature. This can be explained by the lithology of bituminous formations such as Ilam and Gurpi formations in the study areas. The triangular diagram of regular streams (m/z = 217) for the studied bitumens showed that the source of organic compounds of the studied bitumens is mostly marine with a small amount of entry from dry environments. Severe depletion of the carbon isotope (average -28.83 per mill) indicates organic origin and biomass in these samples. On the other hand, sulfur compounds with depletion (-12.16  per mill) indicate formation in a reduced to semi-regenerated sedimentary environment and oxygen isotope data (+15.03  per mill) indicate the formation of organic matter of sedimentary origin.

The purpose of this research is to identify the source of hydrogen sulfide gas using microbiological, geochemical studies on samples of output, input sea water, and injection water to Sivand (SIC C), Dana (SIC D), and Esfand (SIC E) located in the operational area of Siri Island. Therefore, in order to find out the origin of the reservoir souring of the oil fields of Siri Island, after the initial and library studies, as well as the reservoir characteristics, the history of injection and production of the fields, the most probable hypothesis of the reservoir souring in these fields can be caused by the processes of bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR). Therefore, the culture media required for the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria was prepared to prove the hypothesis. After field sampling, some microbiology tests were performed on the samples. Since, in initial observations of the sampling, the change in the color of the samples from pink to black indicated that the samples contained sulfate-reducing bacteria. For this purpose, DNA extraction was carried out on the infected samples. In the complementary stage, the samples entered the molecular identification phase. The output of the results was that the bacteria with the highest frequency (about 81%) are Desulfovibrio bacteria, which can consume hydrogen in the oil reservoir and turn them into hydrogen sulfide gas. Therefore, the primary hypothesis of the research is proven. That is the main cause of reservoir souring of the oil fields in Siri Island, the processes related to SRB in which Desulfovibrio bacteria plays a significant role.

Miandasht copper deposit is located in 110 km east of Shahrood, 24km north west of Abbasabad, and in the Cenozoic volcanic belt of north of Central Iran zone. The major rock units of the study area have Eocene age and include submarine flows (andesite, basalt, and trachyandesit), pyroclastic (tuff breccia and agglomerate) and sedimentary complex (Nomullitic limestone, tuffacous limestone, shale, sandstone and conglomerate). Mineralization in the Miandasht copper deposit occurred as parallel to layering of the host rocks (tuff breccia and agglomerate), and also along with cross- cutting faults of the host rocks in form of stratabound and epigenetic ores. The main ore textures include vein- veinlets, open space filling, disseminated and replacement. The Ores contain primary pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, bornit, and secondary covellite, chalcocite, malachite, hematite and limonite. The most important wall rock alterations accompanied with mineralization are carbonatic- silicic, sericitic, argillic, and chloritic, and that the amound of carbonatization and silicification increases with closing to mineralization zones. According to geochemical studies, tectonic setting of the deposit was extensional environment formed in a continental margin volcanic arc. Based on essential characteristics of the copper mineralization such as tectonic setting, host rocks, mineralogy, and type of alterations, the Miandasht copper deposit shows many similarities with Manto- type deposits, dominantly formed during orogeny, folding and faulting of the host sequence. It should be mentiond that some charachteristic features of the Miandasht copper deposit including development of argillic alteration, and lack of extensive zeolitic alteration, distinguishes it from other copper deposits in the region including Abbasabad deposit.

The Mirgenaghshineh gold deposit is located 43 km northwest of Saqqez in the northwestern part of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone. The rocks in the deposit area predominantly consist of Precambrian volcanosedimentary sequences of schist, metasandstone, slate and metaandesite which are intruded by granitoid bodies. The Gold mineralization in the Mirgenaghshineh deposit is hosted mostly in Northwest-Southeast shear zone. The high grade gold ores occure in highly deformed mylonitic and ultramylonitic rocks that are associated with quartz, sericite-muscovite and sulfide alteration minerals. Ore mineral assemblages of the deposit are simple and consist of pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and electrum. The electrum grains range in size from less than 5 µm to 140 µm and occur in quartz and also in the form of inclusion and veinlet in pyrites. According of geochemical data, gold-bearing ores carry up to 64.3 ppm Au, 9.9 ppm Ag, 2096 ppm As, 506 ppm Pb, 354 ppm Zn, and 244 ppm Cu. Fluid inclusion studies on gold-bearing quartz indicate homogenization temperatures between 158 and 215°C and salinity between 3.3 to 14.5 wt% NaCl eq. for the ore fluid. The study indicates that main characteristics of the geology and mineralization of the Mirgenaghshineh are similar to those of the epizonal orogenic gold deposits.

The present study aims to determine the concentration of heavy metals and toxic metalloids in rice of Sari paddy fields in the Mazandaran province of Iran. In this study, sampling was performed from 32 stations of the rice seed section. The soil-plant relationship was investigated in 6 stations using samples taken from rice soil and other plant parts such as roots, stems, leaves, and bran. Soil and plant samples were prepared using ICP-OES and ICP-MS methods, respectively, and then analyzed chemically. The results of the chemical analysis of rice samples showed that the mercury (Hg) concentration is usually about 0.07 ppm. However, it reaches about 0.09 ppm in some points (30% of the samples). The mean concentration of lead (Pb) is 0.91 ppm, which is close to its allowable limit. In some samples, elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) are different from normal concentrations. The study results attribute the origin of lead elements to the use of chemical zinc fertilizer in rice fields and paddy fields, as Pb concentration in areas with zinc (Zn) fertilizer consumption is about 3.99 ppm. The as concentration in Isa Khandagh is 1.15 ppm, suggesting a high deviation from the normal level. In addition, the concentration of trace elements in rice crops in different regions of Sari city compared with rice crops in some foreign cities shows a high correlation for chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), Arsenic (As), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), and Zinc (Zn).

Damavand is one of the most potential volcanoes of Iran for future eruption. Such indicators as having a slightly- eroded cone, presence of many thermal springs, eruption activity in Late Quaternary, as well as the progression of the generating tectonic regime, all, attest this claim. The intensity of eruption is anticipated to be about 3-5 in Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale. As a result, such hazards as tephra (ash), nuee ardente, lava flow and lahar may pose problems. Thus, this study deals with zoning these hazards. For zoning, Digital Elevation Models (DEM= 30 m), Landsat ESTM+ pictures as well as Arc GIS, ENVI and VORIS softwares were employed, and  for construction of nuee ardente- hazard zoning, Malin and Sheridan (1982) model were used. Atmospheric data for the spread of ashes were taken for NCER/NCAR center. Lava flow routes were determined using a simulation model which is based on the assumption that topography plays the main role on the route of flow, and lavas flow from a point to the nearby one if their differences are positive. In order to construct lahar hazard map, locations of main troughlines on the cone and around the volcano were determined and lahar invasion areas were determined using a proper buffer zone. Based on this study, volcanic ash plume will form at the east of volcano and a number of towns and villages would be threatened. Lava flows and nuee ardentes would threaten some villages around the cone. Lahars would flow via throughlines on the cone and arrive the main vallies around it (Hezar and Delichai). They would threaten many residential areas in their route. The prepared hazard maps are useful and necessary for management of these hazards.

The Qom Formation with Oligocene-Miocene age which is important due to its hydrocarbon reservoirs in some areas, is outcropped with a 330 meters thick mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sequence in Dastjerd area that uncomfortably overlain the Lower Red Formation and is conformably underlained by Upper Red Formation. In this study, the deposits were studied for petrography, microfacies and sedimentary environment, sea-level changes and mixing mechanism. Based on the frequency and distribution of the skeletal and other constituents of the carbonate deposits of Qom Formation in the studied section, six microfacies associated with three facies belt (open marine, shoal & lagoon) were identified related to a carbonate ramp. Mixing and hybridization of carbonate deposits of Qom Formation with different amounts of siliciclastic inputs in sand, silt size in through the thickness and laterally in the depositional basin of this sediments, is related to the tectonic activity and erosion of older rocks such as the Lower Red Formation and associated Paleogene volcanic rocks, deposited in the backarc basin of a subduction system. According to the microfacies analysis of the studied sediments, two cycles of sea level changes were recognized. The first cycle is associated with unstability of the basin floor and fluctuations in the relative sea-level, which leads to the deposition of a thick layer of sandstone regarded to the high tectonic activity and the second cycle is coincident with more stability of the basin which ultimately tends to a shallowing condition.

A unique basement of Kopeh  Dagh sedimentary basin is located and investigated in Agh-darband area, northeastern Iran. The second formation of the Agh- darband group, the Nazarkardeh Formation is cropped out in the area by carbonate and volcanogenic successions. This Formation with Anisian age is overlaid by the Sina Formation, Ladinian age with a sharp boundary and is underlaid by the Sefidkuh Formation with late Scythian in age by a gradual boundary. During this research, four stratigraphic sections are measured from petrology, sequence stratigraphy, microfacies and sedimentary basin points of view. Next this measurement, 300 samples are token and 100 thin sections are made. 11 microfacies with 1 hybrid facies and 3 terrestrial facies are determined. By high resolution studies on these data, this Formation is deposited in lagoon, shoal and open marine which is deposited between the Sefidkuh Formation (carbonate ramp) and the Sina Formation (marginal shelf), so that the depositional environment of the Nazarkardeh Formation is determined as a transitional environment from carbonate ramp to marginal shelf. The existence of hybrid facies show the volcanic activities during deposition of this Formation. the existence of intraformation and monomictic conglomerate in the last depositinal stages of this formation, shows the falling and collapse facies next to the deep floor changes of the sedimentary basin. The sea level change graphs in A, B, C and D stratigraphic sections in contrast with sea level change graphs of Anisian (middle Triassic) shows a third level sequence stratigraphy and is markable by a non-erosional boundary (SB2) on the basis on top of the A, B, C and D stratigraphic sections.

Inversion modeling of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data is formulated as a nonlinear problem and solved using multiple depth layers of fixed boundary and a few depth layers of the variable boundary. The model parameters in Smooth inversion are only the resistivity values. However, in the block inversion, the thickness of each layer is also added to the model parameters. Due to the non-linearity of the inverse problem, the determination of an appropriate initial model is very significant. A technique has been adopted to estimate a proper starting model for the block inversion strategy. Thus, from the solution of the smooth inversion, the second derivative of cumulative resistivity is calculated, then using the difference of turning points, the initial values of the model parameters are determined. The proposed algorithms are first tested on data derived from two artificial models and then implemented on two real data sets. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the smooth inversion of the geo-electrical sounding data due to less dependency on the initial model confronts fewer challenges proportional to the block inversion strategy. However, in the case of block inversion, an appropriate choice of the initial model makes it possible to determine the boundaries of the layers with more certainty.